Where is this? I can only talk for myself but I haven't spoken to anyone who thinks we'll cruise to the semi-finals.
I'm just not seeing where you get that level of optimism from, organically I mean.
England Discussion | Finish 4th
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Where is this? I can only talk for myself but I haven't spoken to anyone who thinks we'll cruise to the semi-finals.
I'm just not seeing where you get that level of optimism from, organically I mean.
I've spoken to a few people at work, so not necessarily on the Caf as this place tends to be more grounded. They've been plotting who we'll likely get in the Semis and the general mood is that it's totally doable. I also felt like there was something building just before the Belgium game. There was a Radio 5 Live show yesterday morning talking about how 'it might really be coming home' based on Germany going out or something similarly not related to England's performances.
Again, we might cruise through and I'd be delighted if that were the case. I don't think that's how football works at all though. Anything can happen in knockout games.
First English Tournament I remember was 1992 when I was 7 years old. I remember growing up and watching decent English sides playing good football and it stopped when I was in my late teens. I've had to put up with 15 years of shit as an England supporter and this Tournament I see a genuine difference under Southgate.
We probably lack the quality in the team to win the competition, but its probably the most organised England team i've seen in my life time. I also think we have some genuine big game players in the team again, that is reason to be optimistic. Throw in that we've got probably the easiest route to a Semi Final in decades.
I've watched almost every game in the World Cup and the only teams who look dangerous (imo) are Croatia, Uruguay, Belgium and France. Three of those are on the other side of the draw.
We won't cruise. Any victories will be hard won. Nearly everyone I speak to takes the 'England will probably f**k it up as usual line'.
Knock-outs are a different kettle of fish though. They tend to be tight cagey affairs, something which England are poor at and then if it goes to pens England's history in that regard makes it really hard for us. Teams are confident on pens against us and the weight of our history is a big burden in something so psychological.
I just can't shake the feeling that we will go out against Colombia. I really think we should have gone for the win yesterday and the momentum.
I would say that 96 team really should have won it too. If Gazza's feet were two sizes bigger...I think they would have done. Agonising in every way. Deserved to beat Germany. I'd say England were really unlucky in 98 against Argentina too...but there was still some way to go after that game.
I think that was the last time I genuinely got excited watching an England side.
It's not silly.
Football was played long before the 1860s.
Common rules were developed in England.
If we can't beat Colombia, we don't deserve to progress any further than the last 16, it's that simple. I think its quite reasonable to not want to face Brazil in the last 8 because at the end of the day, each round you avoid one of the elite teams, there is a chance they get knocked out. I'd rather play them in a one off final at the end of the tournament easily.
That said, it's all focus on Tuesday now and England have to go from there, it won't be easy but we should be beating Colombia all things considered.
This team can reach semis. The opponents are tough and it won't be easy by any means at all, but if we fail it would be either down to bad luck, under-performance or an exceptional performance form the opposition (or a combination of all 3!). I wouldn't be surprised if we feck it up in the slightest, but it would be under-achieving as England have enough quality to qualify given the opposition.
If this team makes semis we'd all be very happy and proud. After that the prospective opponents are beasts. Face Spain in the semis and you're playing a team that is a clear step up in quality. I don't think anyone expects England to even make the final, let alone win it. But the Semi final can be a realistic target now.
If this team makes semis we'd all be very happy and proud. After that the prospective opponents are beasts. Face Spain in the semis and you're playing a team that is a clear step up in quality. I don't think anyone expects England to even make the final, let alone win it. But the Semi final can be a realistic target now.
1990 World Cup draw was fixed deliberately to keep English hooligans on the island of Sardinia as all seeded teams played in the same location. The seeded teams were also given particular groups thus ensuring that England were in Group F (Sardinia)
England were given one of the six seeded places despite massive protests. . . predominantly from Spain.
Wise words
I'm minded to take Southgate at his word that rest and having a look at a few other options in the squad was the motivation for fielding the second string rather than trying to lose the game. I'm sure it's true to say no-one from both England and Belgium were busting their balls to win like they normally would at a World Cup, but I don't buy that Southgate and his team should be hauled over the coals for some cowardly contrived tactic to game the fixture system should they lose to Colombia.
I think in terms of 'momentum' and 'motivation' we are talking largely about tabloid buzzwords, but given the circumstances in which the match built up and took place there was an unavoidable lessening of tension and focus last night, irrespective of how each team approached the game and lined up. I don't blame the media and fans from having the discussion about first vs second, but I honestly believe it was a non-issue in Southgate's thinking last night versus more conventional squad management considerations.
I agree, and in the semis it will most likely be Croatia or Spain. It is as good an opportunity as England will have to progress far at a World Cup for a long time. we shouldn't get too bogged down in a hypothetical quarter/semi final though. Right now we have one game that we need to treat like a final and that is on Tuesday.
Who are them?
I’m going to be in Colombia when this happens, leaving Mumbai tonight. So I hope you English bottle it.
Glory glory co... wait that’s not right
Glory glory co... wait that’s not right
Give dog a bad name and it sticks. Unfortunately the past behaviour of England fans has damaged us almost beyond any redemption.
If what I'm reading on here is anything to go by we are not even allowed to hope now without being called arrogant.
Arrogant! I ask you. After 50 years of abject disappointment. And watching some of the worst shite in history.
Arrogant is the last thing most English fans are right now.
If what I'm reading on here is anything to go by we are not even allowed to hope now without being called arrogant.
Arrogant! I ask you. After 50 years of abject disappointment. And watching some of the worst shite in history.
Arrogant is the last thing most English fans are right now.
It is silly. The English invented Association Football and took it round the world. Who cares if they played a game in which a ball was kicked about in China during the Ming Dynasty?
Yeah, sports when you kick a ball and teams compete against each other have been played since forever, but more than likely it had little resemblance with football as we know these days. So to say that the sport of association football isn't invented in England is a bit stupid, IMHO.
Can't have done or all the priceless antique china would have been smashed.
Hope is right. Everyone does it.
Claiming that you are favorites against Colombia and then Switzerland/Sweden, that it was good that you lost yesterday cause so you avoid Brazil, and now going to reach semis is very arrogant. Especially coming from a country who last time around got humbled from the mighty Iceland, and in this century has won 2 KO matches. But a win against Panama, and suddenly this team is great, has big match players, is playing exciting football and everything seems to have changed.
Could be good for the players/Southgate. I'm happy with the daft hope and positive outlook again though!
So you think Colombia, Switzerland and Sweden are favourites against England I presume?
Football was played long before common rules were developed in England in the early 1860s.
Each locality had its own rules beforehand meaning teams from different regions couldn't realistically play against each other.
I would say that each of them have easily a 50-50% chance, and if James is fit, Colombia are favorites.
After avoiding this part of the forum for most of the world cup, I think its safe to say when we crash out, I'll be avoiding it like the plague. The venom and joy that'll be pouring from so many on here will be like when Liverpool lost the CL final.
Kane? Lingard?
That isn't arrogance. That is just idle speculation from hopeful footy fans. Most of it is totally subjective.
I would say that, after all we have been through, absolutely nobody in this Country is under any illusion about the task ahead and where we truly rate in the grand scheme of things.
We are reasonable hopefuls with a decent team spirit at best.
If anyone is being 'arrogant' or overly bullish then they must have been in a coma for the last 30 years.
If that's your opinion, that the games are 50/50, then unsure why you're so perplexed that England fans might just fancy themselves as favourites?
Can't see how that would be arrogant.
A few tongue in cheek comments aside, I haven't noticed much in the way arrogance on the part of the England fans. Quite the contrary, most seem to be pleased at having fallen on the easier side of the draw - surely a recognition of how little they rate their own team.
No it isn't arrogance. It's the exact opposite. We recognize that we're not very good and need an easier route, if we are to progress in the competition!
What has Kane done to be called a big game player? Lingard at least has scored in an FA Cup final, but a big game player, he is not.
Last generation had Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard among others, all big game players.
When's the 1700s Bavarian Mountain Football Rules World Cup taking place then?
I can only assume you haven't seen much of Lingard last season? He pretty much was United's big game player.
What do you have to do to achieve big game player status with you anyway? Wondered what the criteria is.
Because after getting consistently humiliated I would have thought that they would be a bit in the side of caution.
England are going to win this World Cup.
Quote me.
Quote me.
You're making an issue where there isn't one and, as many others have said already, don't seem to understand what arrogance actually is.
Which 'big' games United played last year?
I would say those against Sevilla (very debatable how big those games are), Chelsea in FA Cup and at a push against Liverpool because of history. Maybe the first match against City (in the second the title was already decided).
What did Lingard do on those matches?
My criteria for big game players are players who win matches in KO stages of UCL and WC/continental cup, and title deciding matches in the league.
Kane and Lingard have not done it yet.
So much bitterness towards English people enjoying a world cup for once. We all know it'll end in the usual tears, and yet people have to act all high and mighty. Tragic.
The entire world: English fans are arrogant
English fans: How dare you call us arrogant? We are only going to defeat Colombia and Sweden, reach the semis when we are going to face a tired Croatia/Spain and see what happens there. We are definitely not arrogant.
I am out! See you after the Colombia match.
English fans: How dare you call us arrogant? We are only going to defeat Colombia and Sweden, reach the semis when we are going to face a tired Croatia/Spain and see what happens there. We are definitely not arrogant.
I am out! See you after the Colombia match.
The Sport Bible posts are tongue in cheek right and should be taken as fun?
The England team is pretty young and inexperienced so by your own standard there won't be any big game players then.
Lingard chipped in with goals against the other big 5 last season and performed well.
We are like Leicester City fans a couple of years ago. On a roll, with a chance and if a few things go our way then the impossible might happen. Nothing arrogant about that.
You need to buy a dictionary mate and look up the definition of the word.